Myrrh is an aromatic resin that was used in making perfumes, the holy anointing oil, and in preparing a body for burial. The Hebrew word for myrrh, Mowr, comes from the root word Marar which means bitterness. Because myrrh was used in the embalming or anointing of the dead, it came to represent mortality, suffering, and sorrow. During biblical times myrrh was very costly and used in expensive perfumes. It was used in powdered form to perfume garments and beds and to make sachets which were worn between the breasts.
Here in the Song of Solomon, the Bride likens Jesus to a bundle of myrrh
that lay on her heart through the night. Jesus’ death on the Cross is an
extravagant and costly gift to His Bride and reveals the depths of His love for
us. The Cross is the moment when the love of God is displayed like no other; it
is the abandonment of His own life in pursuit to redeem His cherished Bride. We
were created in the image of God to be His eternal companion forever, a perfect
Bride for His Son. Jesus didn’t sacrifice His life to redeem fallen angels, but
actually took on the form of man in flesh to demonstrate His passionate, fiery,
jealous love and redeem us from sin and the consequence of eternal separation.
One of Jesus’ last prayers was, “Father, I desire that they be with Me where I
am” (Jn. 17:24). We were made for love – the objects of God’s affections! I don’t think we will ever fully comprehend the mystery and wonder of
the uncreated God wanting to join Himself to humanity in Jesus. Ephesians 5:30
states, “We are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.” The union
we now experience with Jesus and our future destiny as His Bride for all eternity
is only made possible because of the cleansing blood that Jesus shed on the
Cross. “O precious is the flow that makes us white as snow…” We will never tire
of mediating on the wonders of His love and the power of redemption that was
accomplished on the Cross.
The night often speaks
of times of temptations and trials and refers to the time of our Beloved’s
absence. In the night season one can
feel weak in faith and abandoned by God; He often feels distant in these seasons
which leaves us asking if He really hears, sees, and knows our difficulties.
But as we mediate on the Cross (symbolic of myrrh between the breast, or over
the heart) and His endless love for us demonstrated through His suffering, our
faith becomes anchored in truth and we find confidence to trust that nothing
can separate us from His unfailing love. Songs 7:10 says “I am my Beloved’s and
His desire is for me.” Even in our failures and weakness, God demonstrated His
own love for us as Jesus died on the cross, (Rom. 5:8)
The work of Calvary is vast and we
will never exhaust the depths of all that was provided through this single act
of love wrought by the Lover of our souls. It should be a constant
meditation upon our heart as it is our constant reminder and assurance of His
desire for union with us.
Devotional Prayer
Father, thank You for Your perfect love with which You love
me, even to the extent that You did not withhold Your only Son in order to
redeem me and restore my relationship with You. Jesus, thank You that You were
willing to leave Your throne of glory to take on the form of man in flesh, that
I might become Your pure, spotless Bride and enjoy You forever without end! Thank You for the
cleansing power of Your blood shed on the Cross and that Your Spirit now lives
in me so that there is never a moment when You are not with me. May I keep the mediation of Your love displayed on
the Cross always upon my heart until that moment when I see You face to face
and we are together forever.